Frugal Shopping

For many, shopping frugally is important and it's no wonder why.  There ARE ways to be frugal and healthy.  Vitamin Cottage/Natural Grocers market is VERY selective about the food that they sell and their prices tend to be far better than Whole Foods market.  This isn't to criticize Whole Foods market though.  I admit that my hubby and I do most of our shopping at Vitamin Cottage and two big reasons are their standards and their price; but there are still items that we buy from Whole Foods.  Green coconuts, for example, never seem to be available at the Vitamin Cottage and I make kefirs very often these days.

If you plan your weekly menu carefully, you may even be able to fit a pricy meal into your budget once in a while.  We don't eat much meat in my household for a number of reasons but a major benefit is that this reduces the price of our groceries significantly.  Most nights we have vegan dinners, yet neither my husband nor I are vegan.  I don't believe hubby knew that he would come to enjoy vegan meals as much as he does now.  We also try to buy as many things in bulk as we can.  They tend to be on the cheaper side.  Stretching meals as much as possible is also a way to cut down on trips to the grocery store.  My last roommate and I used to buy whole fryer chickens often because each whole fryer chicken would provide about six meals for each of us.  I love to ferment vegetables because of the valuable cultures, however, it also preserves my vegetables.  They can last anywhere between six months to a year; if it didn't fly out of my fridge so fast!

Where there is a will, there is a way.  Eating healthy is significantly more expensive than junky eating, but once you make a habit of eating real food, you can't go back to the other stuff.  If you have any additional tips, please comment.  I welcome them with all my heart!

Farm Bill 2012 | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

The following is more information on the Farm Bill that the last post was talking about.  Let's continue to take action against the people who are trying to limit our choices. 

I consider good farmers to be more valuable than gold.  If I have gold, but there are no good farmers, what do I live on?  If I have no gold, but there are good farmers everywhere, I can trade whatever I have for some good food to live on.  I therefore will do everything to protect the gold that exists in this country.

Farm Bill 2012 | Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Healthy Milk: What Is It?

I received a comment from a goat farmer today that I will be posting very soon. I thought that I would post this article about milk first, for it hits on some of the comments that were made. The focus of the conversation was mostly about GMOs in the feed of dairy producing animals (mostly goats and cows of course).

The article below talks about healthy milk, but goes a little further and explains some of the politics that is on the way. The politics explained in the article can ultimately hurt dairy farmers. I really don't like giving or receiving such frightening news as this, but I'm even more afraid of burying my head in the sand. I hope that more farmers take Joel Salatin's advice and opt out of this very corrupted system that seems to be getting worse. I just hope that system eventually stops trying to corrupt the businesses that try to provide healthy food for those of us who need it.

Please take time to take action. There is a link at the bottom of the page of the article below.

Healthy Milk: What Is It?

Organic farmers take on Monsanto over patent lawsuits

And the battle between organic farmers and corporate giant Monsanto rages on.  Of course the organic farmers have my full support, for their businesses were around long before Monsanto and their "infringement on patent" lawsuit nonsense.  Of course, I also have personal interests in mind.  Many people like me desperately need those organic farmers to stay in business.  If they don't, what do we eat?

Since organic food is in great demand these days, I have high hopes that Monsanto cannot win this one.

Organic farmers take on Monsanto over patent lawsuits

How Much of Your Food Labeled as Organic Is Actually Organic?

The following article speaks some definite truths, however, I'm skeptical about some of what the article says.

It is true that one needs to be VERY careful when buying processed foods with an "organic" label.  Not everything in organic crackers, for example, has to be organic.  There could be GMOs and MSGs in it.  As long as 95% of the food or drink is organic, it can have the "USDA Organic" label.

Fresh certified organic produce, on the other hand, I'm not sure can be conventionally grown as the article states.  This is not to declare the contents of the article untrue.  I'm simply expressing skepticism about one part of the article and I'm on the lookout for more information in case what it says IS in fact true.

If you, the reader, has further information on this topic it is very welcome!  I'm grateful for any and all information.

How Much of Your Food Labeled as Organic Is Actually Organic?

Queen of the Sun: Documenting the Plight of Bees

Although CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) is frightening to think about, it is also happening.  It is important that we get as much information about this menacing situation so that we can figure out solutions.

When are these pesticide industries going to learn that nature is perfect?  When it is tampered with so dramatically, we hurt all forms of life including ourselves.  Roundup doesn't just hurt weeds; it is a major reason why I refuse to buy anything that even might be genetically tampered with.



Queen of the Sun: Documenting the Plight of Bees

White House Refuses to Release Email From Monsanto-Linked Lobbyist | Truthout

Although article below may shock or just upset many Obama fans (that may simply turn a deaf ear to such information anyway); it doesn't surprise me in the least.  For several months now, I've suspected that Obama works with Monsanto.  I have a feeling that much of the funding for his campaign this year and perhaps four years ago came from Monsanto lobbyists.  I could be wrong, but if I'm not, it would certainly explain what is going on in the events discussed in the article below AND it would also explain some situations that are just bizarre.  Like why Michael Taylor moved up in the FDA so quickly and easily; and why Tom Vilsak was appointed as the Secretary of Agriculture.

White House Refuses to Release Email From Monsanto-Linked Lobbyist | Truthout